Brisbane Times and Sun-Herald journalist

Twenty-six years ago, Brisbane put itself front and centre on the international stage when it hosted World Expo ’88.

It has since stood as the biggest international event held in the Queensland capital, but that is set to be challenged in November when it hosts the world’s most powerful leaders in the G20 summit.

The requirement to protect the dignitaries expected to attend, such as US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Russian President Vladimir Putin, will see an unprecedented security cordon cover Brisbane in mid-November.

“What’s happened since then has changed the entire world we live in, especially through the areas of violent protests and terrorism, so the world has changed,” Assistant Commissioner Katarina Carroll, who heads the Queensland Police Service's G20 Group, told Fairfax Media.

“I think, at that stage back then, we delivered Expo ’88 very well and the Commonwealth Games not too long before that, so we do deliver events very, very well.”

World Expo 88 Celebrations at South Bank in Brisbane 1988. Photo: http://www.southbankcelebrates88.com.au/

The Expo handbook, which was typed out and photocopied before being distributed to officers, advised police on how to deal with diplomatic immunity – in matters of drink-driving, for example, those with an “appropriate diplomatic identity” could refuse a roadside test – and protests such as flag burning.

Radio codes were devised, such as “tango” for a threat (“tango bravo” being a bomb threat) and “mike” for medical situations (“mike alpha” – ambulance required), because police would be “subject to frequency monitoring by outside concerns”.

Police and security personnel on the ground during the G20 would not have the same level of concern about people listening in.

Expo 88 opens in Brisbane Photo: BRUCE MILLER/FAIRFAX ARCHIVES

“During Expo ’88, I don’t even think we had computers – in fact, I think the first one I ever sat at while at the QPS was in 1991,” Ms Carroll said.

“There’s a lot more technology that has now come in. I’ll be able to know where my resources on the ground are through GIS (geographic information system).

“We’ll talk through more advanced radio, we’ll have CCTV footage, so the technology has taken us anything we thought was possible in 1988.”

A new Brisbane Marketing campaign launched in the lead up to the G20 summit.

Another aspect of the 1988 document is the consistent use of the pronoun “he” to describe police officers.

“In 1988, there would have been substantially less women (in the QPS),” Ms Carroll said.

“It wasn’t until the early 1990s that we went through a very big recruiting drive for women and we sit at about 30 per cent women across the organisation now.

“But you would not have had a senior policewoman role in 1988.”

Ms Carroll laughed when it was pointed out there were not many G20 roles more senior than her own.

“That’s true, which is actually not a bad thing,” she said.

“In 1988, unfortunately, if women had children, there were no flexible work practices so they could actually return to work.

“So when people started families, a lot of them actually left the job. Luckily, now, it has changed and while I agree it probably needs to change more, there are some flexible work practices.”

Despite the changes since 1988, Ms Carroll said there were still some lessons to take from the Expo experience.

But hundreds of other, more recent, events both in Australia and overseas would play a bigger role in planning.

“There are some things we’ll take from (Expo), but mostly a lot of things have changed since then,” Ms Carroll said.

“It was a very different environment. Life was quite different to what it is now, so now we tolerate a little bit more.

“When it comes to policing, though, we expect to be extraordinarily professional in the way that we act and the way that we look.”

Ms Carroll was also confident the success of Expo would be emulated.

“We have been planning for 18 months at least and we’ve got another eight to go,” she said.

“I’m very comfortable with where our plans are at and I think, like Expo ’88 which was brilliant for the city, this will be just as successful.”

8 comments

With only the insecure striving for security at Brisbane Airport, blowing out the candles in Froggy Newman's G20 Cake-n-Ass Party will be a breeze for The Chaser Gang.

Commenter

Geronimo

Location

Yippee Yi Yo

Date and time

March 16, 2014, 6:41AM

I think to be fare this was not an event that the current state government pursed and obtained as much as it was a legacy inherited from a previous Federal govt.

Commenter

Jenno

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

March 17, 2014, 9:03AM

Luv ya gramma Jenno, dare one presume its a pupil refeckion of the LNP Skool of Arts?

Commenter

Geronimo

Location

Yippee Yi Yo

Date and time

March 17, 2014, 12:07PM

Seems to me that the resources expended up to now could have been better used elsewhere! Not to mention that these same resources have been and continue to be, expended toward the planning of a bloody great big imposition on the population of central Brisbane for no tangible gains. For those about to flame me please note I said TANGIBLE gains. I am sure we will hear all about the huge $ advantage this event will bring to our city/state. I for one would like to actually see some real world result from this! Not a bunch of meaningless waffle about what it is going to do for us!

Will our embarrassing urban road network be improved? Will we suddenly have a national highway between Nambour and the north that does not resemble a goat track?Will CBD vendors have record weeks?Will our health budget be given a huge boost?Etc etc

Commenter

Jenno

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

March 16, 2014, 9:40AM

Police monitoring us with dozens of security cameras while we can't film them in police vans and watch-houses (let alone prison staff). South Bank to have a weird "Berlin Wall" down the middle of it. Things like the G20 produce financial benefits for a few politicians and their friends, rather than ordinary businesses. Who would want them?

Let's hope the Chaser team can work that magic we saw at APEC at 2007. Remember this?

Brisbane does not deserve - or need - this dislocation...suffocating security, pretentious politicians and their bumbling bureaucrats and, for the most part, woeful world leaders.

Find another Community upon which to visit chaos. Who was the fool that extended the Invitation. Name and shame that man or woman!

Commenter

Cicero

Location

Brisbqne

Date and time

March 16, 2014, 5:33PM

I believe it was Mr Kevin Rudd but don't quote me. I seem to remember that this was presented as a good thing at the time and that we (Brisbane) had been done a favour! I am quite happy to be corrected.

Commenter

Jenno

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

March 17, 2014, 9:01AM

What a horrendous waste of taxpayer's money! All for a bit of posturing on the world stage. Let us have some real stuff - better roads, better hospitals, better schools.